40 rescued dogs at Devore animal shelter still looking for homes

DEVORE -- Nearly 100 dogs have received a third chance at life after rescue groups across the West converged on the San Bernardino County Animal Shelter here, but 40 were still waiting to be rescued, shelter officials said Saturday.

A little more than a week after the dogs were made available to be rescued by reputable and accredited rescue groups, more than a third of the dogs found under reportedly hoarding conditions at an Apple Valley rescue organization and then housed at the Devore shelter have rescued.

Rescued for Life, a rescue group in Aurora, Colo., took in 19 ailing puppies and, according to officials, the puppies are beginning to thrive.

The Upland Animal Shelter helped by taking in three dogs.

A Sacramento group rescued 35 dogs including five-day-old puppies born at the Devore shelter.

Since the dogs were made available on July 5, none have been euthanized, shelter officials said.

On June 18, San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control officers rescued 137 dogs from Rainbows End Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit facility in an unincorporated area near Apple Valley after receiving a tip of a possible hoarding and negligent situation at the rescue.

Doug Smith, head of the Devore shelter, said the dogs were living in near-feral conditions and were suffering from malnutrition

After being taken out of those conditions, the dogs needed to be saved again.

Because of their behavioral and medical needs, the animals couldn't be adopted out, said Smith, and authorities turned to their many rescue partners.

Animal rescue groups interested in rescuing the 40 dogs remaining at the Devore site should call the San Bernardino County Animal Shelter at 909-386-9820.